RIYADH: Ali Al-Kharafi, a Kuwaiti equestrian, led the third race of “Jump Saudi” showjumping championship at Al-Janadriyah - a cultural and heritage site near Riyadh, on Friday. He finished the four-star category of the speed-against-time race, 1.4 m-high hurdles, in 60.92 seconds. Ukraine’s Alisa Danilova and Saudi Arabia’s Mishari Al-Harbi came second and third, respectively. The first week of the championship - for the one-star and four-star categories, kicked off yesterday and continues until Sunday with equestrians from 17 countries taking part.

In another development, Rider Fawaz Al-Subaiee won the title of the first day of the Late Abdelaziz Al-Mudaeed (Dean of Kuwait journalism) show jumping tournament being held at Kuwait Riding Center in Subhan. Al-Subaiee was first in the seventh heat at the height of 135 cm followed by riders Ghazi Al-Juraiwi, Abdulrahman Al-Fuzaie, Hala Al-Mulla and Fawaz Al-Rashed.

Nick Chaning won the heat of 125 cm height, leaving behind Hussein Al-Kharafi, Hamad Al-Hajiri and Ghazi Al-Fulaij. Chairman of the Organizing Committee Nasser Abdulaziz Al-Musaeed said there are more than 350 riders competing in the tournament. He said the tournament is being run on the point system to ensure total transparency and give all riders the opportunity to compete.